Morgan Freeman to drive pace car at Indy.

Academy Award-nominated actor Morgan Freeman will drive the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible pace car to lead the field to the start of the 88th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday 30 May.

"We're thrilled that Morgan Freeman is driving the pace car for the 88th 500," said Indianapolis Motor Speedway president and CEO Tony George, "He is an ideal person for the role since the theme of the event is 'Lights, Camera, Traction!' This theme highlights the connection between the excitement and stars of the Indy 500 and the glamour and stars of motion pictures, and Morgan is one of the most popular and respected modern film stars. And the fact that he'll be behind the wheel of a Corvette, an American automotive icon from Chevrolet, is even more exciting."

Freeman has received numerous awards for his performances in films, television and the theatre, including Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for The Shawshank Redemption in 1995 and Driving Miss Daisy in 1990. He also received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Street Smart in 1988. Freeman is scheduled to appear in a new Luc Besson film with Jet Li in 2004, and has recently finished shooting An Unfinished Life with producer/actor Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez.

"Right next to acting, my childhood dream was to drive on a speedway track," Freeman said, "I'm thrilled to just be an observer, but especially thrilled to be a part of the racing logs as the pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500 this year."

The 2004 Corvette that will serve as the Indianapolis 500 pace car is virtually identical to the convertibles available through local Chevrolet dealerships, except that a white-and-blue, two-tone paint treatment incorporating Americana-themed graphics, tying into Chevrolet's new 'American Revolution' marketing theme decorates the Indy machine.